Master Mind Scholarships: Government of Flanders Masters Funding for International Students

The Master Mind Scholarships pay a grant of €10,225 plus a tuition fee waiver for each academic year of a master's programme in Flanders or Brussels. The Flemish Ministry of Education and Training runs the scheme for outstanding students from around the world. It is also meant to raise the profile of Flanders and Brussels as places to study.

Note that the scholarship is currently under review by the Ministry of Education and as such, the awarded grant, selection process, and modalities may change for the academic year 2027-2028.

• Host: participating Flemish higher education institutions in Belgium
• Level: Masters Degree
• Study destination: Flanders and Brussels, Belgium
• Value: €10,225 grant plus a tuition fee waiver per academic year
• Duration: one academic year for 60 ECTS, two academic years for 120 ECTS
• Deadline: host institution deadlines fall between 1 February to 1 April 2026
• Awards: each Flemish higher education institution can submit a maximum of 20 applications

Universities

KU Leuven / University of Leuven
University of Antwerp
Ghent University
Hasselt University
Vrije Universiteit Brussel

Universities of Applied Sciences and Arts

Antwerp Maritime Academy
AP University of Applied Sciences and Arts
Erasmus Brussels University of Applied Sciences and Arts
HOGENT University of Applied Sciences and Arts
KdG University of Applied Sciences and Arts
LUCA School of Arts
PXL University of Applied Sciences and Arts

Check if your desired host institution participates in the Master Mind scholarship before you apply.

You can use the award for eligible Masters Degree Programmes at participating Flemish institutions. The master's degree may consist of one or two academic years, but must meet the threshold of 60 ECTS per academic year. Three types of programme do not qualify: preparatory programmes, bridging programmes and distance learning.

Not specified. Each Flemish higher education institution can submit a maximum of 20 applications to the Flemish Higher Education Council.

International students from all countries except Russia can apply. Some scholarships are reserved for students from priority countries of the Flemish government: Japan (3), Mexico (3), Palestine (2), USA (5). If a selected student from one of these countries cancels or declines the scholarship, the opportunity will first be offered to the next highest-ranking applicant from the same country before moving on to the general ranked list of candidates as decided by the Selection Committee. If the available amount of reserved scholarships is not fulfilled, they will be awarded according to the general ranked list of candidates as decided by the Selection Committee.

Each Master Mind Scholarship gives a grant of €10,225 and a tuition fee waiver for every academic year. The grant is money paid to you; the waiver means the tuition fee is not charged.

The host institution can ask the applicant for a tuition fee that equals the lowest rate of the yearly tuition fee for a local student who receives a study grant from the Flemish government. This rate may increase slightly on a yearly basis.

How long the support runs depends on the programme: one academic year for a Master programme of 60 ECTS, and two academic years for a master programme of 120 ECTS.

Students cannot combine the Master Mind scholarship with: another scholarship from the Flemish Government; an Erasmus+ or Erasmus Mundus scholarship; a BAEF scholarship; a Fulbright scholarship.

If a scholarship is cancelled or declined by the selected candidate, it is awarded to the next highest ranked candidate by the Flemish Selection Committee. If a student loses their scholarship, the student will have to pay the full tuition fee if they want to continue the programme without the scholarship.

• You apply for a Master degree programme at a higher education institution in Flanders (the Flemish host institution). The master's degree may consist of one or two academic years, but must meet the threshold of 60 ECTS per academic year.
• You need strong academic performance and/or potential, shown by a Grade Point Average of 3.5 out of 4.0. The GPA is calculated on the last obtained bachelor's or master's degree, using the Scholaro tool.
• You need good knowledge of English, with proof no older than 3 years at the time of application processing by the higher education institution. For a university or a university of sciences: an overall minimum band score of 7.0 on the IELTS test or the IELTS Indicator; a minimum total score of 94 on a TOEFL test or TOEFL iBT; a C1 level of the Common European Framework of Reference; or a similar result in another official language test recognized by the host institution. For a school of arts: an overall band score of minimum 6.5 on the IELTS test or IELTS Indicator; a minimum total score of 90 on the TOEFL test or TOEFL iBT; a B2 level of the Common European Framework of Reference; or a similar result in another official English language test recognized by the host institution.
• The host institution must accept you before you can receive the scholarship. This applies even if the acceptance decision comes after the Master Mind Scholarships selection.
• Only one Flemish higher education institution can nominate you. If more than one preselects you, choose one institution and submit your application through the Mobility Online tool.
• All nationalities except Russian can apply. Your previous degree must come from a higher education institution located outside Flanders. International students who have previously been enrolled at a Flemish higher education institution on credit mobility (such as Erasmus+) are still eligible.
• Students already enrolled in a Flemish higher education institution cannot apply. The only exception is made for international students who, at the moment of their application in Spring 2026, are already enrolled in a specific preparatory programme in order to start a master's programme in September 2026.
• Student mobility to partner institutions outside Flanders and Brussels during the master's programme is allowed (such as Erasmus+). However, at least half of the study credits of the master's programme must be obtained at the Flemish host institution.

See the full eligibility criteria at the official website (link found below).

The call for the academic year 2026-2027 is now closed.

Students cannot apply directly. You need to submit your application documents to the host institution before their deadline. The host institution checks whether applicants meet all eligibility criteria and performs a preselection. A host institution may submit a maximum of 20 applications to the Flemish Higher Education Council. Deadlines set by each Flemish host institution vary and fall between 1 February to 1 April 2026.

If your application fulfils all criteria and has been accepted for preselection, the host institution will create your application file for the scholarship via the Mobility Online application tool. If you did not qualify, no application will be fulfilled in the tool. If you have been preselected, you will receive an email generated by the Mobility Online tool notifying you of this, with instructions to register in the tool. You must complete your application file there before the deadline, which will be clearly stated in Mobility Online.

Documents to be uploaded:

• Profile picture
• Copy of your international passport or national ID
• Curriculum Vitae, including your American GPA out of 4.0 and your publications, academic awards, previous scholarships, etc if applicable
• Transcript of records. If this document is written in a language other than Dutch, French, German, or English, a certified translation must be enclosed.
• English language test results or letter of exemption provided by the host university
• Letter of motivation written in English
• Two signed letters of recommendation from professors of your (previous) home university, university of applied sciences (and arts) or recent employer. These letters must be written in English.
• Copy of acquired diploma(s). If this is written in a language other than Dutch, French, German, or English, a certified translation must be enclosed.

The host institution validates and submits the completed application file to the Flemish Higher Education Council in the Mobility Online tool before the deadline communicated to the institutions. Applications validated after this deadline will not be accepted. The selection committee of the Flemish Higher Education Council will award the scholarship to the highest ranking students, and you will be notified of the result.

Read the How to Apply page and visit the official website (link found below) for detailed information on how to apply for this scholarship.

This award suits a student with a strong academic record who wants to take a full master's programme in Flanders or Brussels and has a degree from outside Flanders. You should be ready to be accepted by a Flemish host institution, since the scholarship depends on that acceptance.

If you already study at a Flemish institution, you are not eligible, except for international students who, at the moment of their application in Spring 2026, are already enrolled in a specific preparatory programme in order to start a master's programme in September 2026. Applicants of all nationalities except Russian may apply, and students from Japan, Mexico, Palestine and the USA have a set number of reserved places.

• Who can apply for the Master Mind Scholarships? International students of all nationalities except Russian, who hold a previous degree from an institution outside Flanders and are not already enrolled at a Flemish higher education institution, with the exception of international students already enrolled in a specific preparatory programme in order to start a master's programme in September 2026.

• What does the scholarship cover? A grant of €10,225 plus a tuition fee waiver per academic year.

• How long does the funding last? One academic year for a Master programme of 60 ECTS and two academic years for a master programme of 120 ECTS.

• Can I apply directly to the programme? No. You submit your application documents to the Flemish host institution, which preselects eligible applications and creates your application file in the Mobility Online tool.

• What English score do I need? For a university or university of sciences: IELTS overall minimum 7.0, TOEFL minimum 94, or C1 level. For a school of arts: IELTS overall minimum 6.5, TOEFL minimum 90, or B2 level. Proof must be no older than 3 years.

• What is the deadline? Each Flemish host institution sets its own deadline, falling between 1 February to 1 April 2026.

• Read the official guidelines and the How to Apply page before you start, so you know which documents the host institution expects.
• Prepare your transcripts, degree certificate, English test evidence and two signed letters of recommendation early, since institutions set different internal deadlines.
• Calculate your American GPA out of 4.0 with the Scholaro tool before you apply.
• Contact your chosen Flemish host institution to confirm its deadline and how it handles preselection.
• Apply to one institution only for nomination, because you can be nominated by just one Flemish higher education institution.